21 Adult Coloring Books That'll Make All Your Work Stress Melt Away

Earlier this year, during a weekend getaway to the mountains, a friend of mine brought out a bunch of coloring books and crayons. No, there were no kids around—the group was all 20- and 30-somethings—and for a few moments, we looked at her like she was a little insane.

We finally gave in (it was either that or Monopoly), and after a couple of hours, we all felt more relaxed than we had in a long time. And a little more creative, too.

Turns out, adult coloring is a thing—a thing that has been around for several decades but has just recently gained mainstream popularity. The activity, experts say, has a brain-quieting, stress-reducing effect on always-on professionals.

Think about it: When was the last time your mind stayed focused so intently on something that wasn’t a screen? Plus, as psychologist Gloria Martínez Ayala tells The Huffington Post, coloring “brings out our imagination and takes us back to our childhood, a period in which we most certainly had a lot less stress.”

You can learn more about the benefits here and here, but if you want to take my word for it and dive right in, here’s a list of 21 coloring books, designed for adults, that you can order right now.

From beautiful seascapes to Ryan Gosling illustrations (yes, really), pick one you love, then tell us how it goes on Twitter!

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Adrian was The Muse’s very first employee (ask her about the early days!) who built the Muse editorial team from the ground up. Now, she serves as Editor-at-Large, launching new content products and sharing expert career advice with Muse audiences online and off. When she’s not Musing, you’ll find her planning her next dinner party or international vacation. Say hi on Twitter and Instagram.